Venerable Suzanne Aubert

I was born in France, in a small village not far from Lyon. In my childhood health problems slowed down my education, but I made it up later at the school of the Benedictine nuns of La Rochette. There I studied different subjects and obtained many skills. My parents arranged a marriage for me but I refused to comply. I knew that God had other plans for me. In 1860, I set sail from France to New Zealand as a missionary, with the intention of teaching Māori girls. Upon my arrival I met and joined the English-speaking Sisters of Mercy and worked with them. Financial and other problems forced me to reurn to France temporarily. Later, I travelled to Hawke’s Bay, another region of New Zealand. There I helped with the revitalization of the Māori mission. We supported the Māori people in different aspects of life, from religious service to medical assistance. I wanted to found an order to continue this work. In April 1917, the Order of the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion was officially recognised by the Pope. I died on the1st of October, 1926.